AIRLINE ACCUSED OF LOW BLOW
Pupils have tos tump up extra£750
Parents of school pupils who are on an aid mission to Uganda have slammed a top airline for charging them £750 in excess baggage.
The money was destined for vital community projects in the poverty-stricken African country.
A group of 20 sixth year pupils and four teachers from Duncanrig Secondary embarked on their journey with Emirates last week. But due to the generosity of the community in East Kilbride, they had more donations of baby and children’s clothes than expected, meaning they were over their weight allowance.
Despite spending more than £17,000 in return flights with one of the world’s biggest airlines, they were hit with the whopping excess baggage charge when they
checked in at the airport.
The pupils with the support of friends, family and local businesses – including The Murray’s Deans Pharmacy who donated anti-malaria tablets at a vastly reduced cost – raised an amazing £33,000 in total leading up to the two-week trip.
The group were due to present the Luwero Community Project with £12,000 but the excess baggage fee had to be deducted.
Now in its 13th year, this year’s trip will see the group volunteer in an orphanage and a nursery as well as helping with building projects and harvesting the vital crops the community need to survive.
But despite teachers’ and parents’ pleas, Emirates say the charge is compulsory – and that they already support a number of charities in Africa.
But Steve Nally, a parent of one of the pupil’s on the trip, and who was heavily involved in organising fundraising with wife Linda, say they are astounded Emirates wouldn’t waive the fee given the money and donations were destined for such a good cause.
He told the News: “We didn’t become aware of the extent of the generosity of the people of East Kilbride until everyone got together two days before departure to try to pack all of the donated goods.
“While I appreciate Emirates contribute to many charitable organisations, given that the group have spent in excess of £17,000 on return flights and will be leaving almost all of their personal goods with the project meaning return luggage will be minimal, I thought this gesture would be the least an airline the size of Emirates could do.
“Other corporate supporters have been very generous with their support, despite the fact we haven’t spent money with them.
“In the case of Emirates, all we asked is that they waived the excess baggage costs they imposed – in effect taking desperately needed funds away from the Luwero Orphanage Project.”
Head teacher at Duncanrig, George Wynne, told the News: “While we understand the group were 100kg overweight in luggage between them, we contacted the airline as soon as we realised we would be above our baggage allowance but were still hit with this charge.
“The generosity of local people has been outstanding and we were faced with the choice of leaving a lot of items donated behind or getting hit with the charge.
“The teachers decided to take as much as they could but had hoped, given the circumstances, Emirates may have waived the fee when they got to the airport. We have never been faced with this before
“It’s extremely disappointing an airline the size of Emirates haven’t been a little more sympathetic – £750 is probably a drop in the ocean to them and is quite frankly ridiculous. The money was meant for the community of Luwero where it is desperately needed.”
In response to Steve Nally’s request to have the fee reimbursed, a spokesperson for Emirates said: “We totally appreciate the efforts that went into organising such a trip.
“Emirates supports many charities in Africa and around the world through the Emirates Airline Foundation and we pride ourselves for being a responsible organisation.
“That being said, we would’ve needed more time to evaluate your sponsorship request.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion, we won’t be able to support this charity.”